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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

OF DISCIPLINE AND DISCIPLES

We all at one time or
another have had occasion to discipline someone under our care or close to us,
and no doubt we have met with resistance
sometimes. The object of our correction or discipline remains defiant, refuses
to budge or totally misunderstands us and our motives leading us to conclude
sometimes that they are incorrigible, difficult or unwilling to change.I have learnt over the years however that no matter how
good our intentions, discipline can only be effective when and where there is a
strong foundation of discipleship between you and your object of
correction.

Discipleship makes
discipline easy and very effective.When you
have built a caring relationship with someone over time and they have come to
realize for themselves that you love them and mean well for them, they will
respond positively to your corrections and attempts at disciplining them.Whether it is a subordinate at work, a sibling, a
child, a protégée, a step-child, a ward or a house-help, we must first sow the
seeds of nurturing love into them before we can reap the harvest of unreserved
compliance from them.

Take an interest in
their welfare, studies, career prospects, relationships, families etc. invest
some time (and maybe some money if need be) to call them, get them a helpful
material, link them up with a useful contact, mentor them gently without being
overbearing and demanding, overlook and forgive their faults, just be generally
gracious to them. Then stand back, watch and be amazed at how they respond to
your corrections!Infact, they will not want
to hurt you deliberately!

Is someone in your life driving you up the wall by not
responding well to your corrections? Well, maybe you need to change your
approach to them and redirect some of your energies towards disciplining them
lovingly.Nobody hates to be loved you know!A new pair of slippers for your house-help or
deodorant for your step child may just do the magic!Discipleship must precede discipline, if it must hit
home!